JFH News: Nashville Mayor David Briley, Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith Present at Historical Marker Unveiling

NASHVILLE MAYOR DAVID BRILEY, AMY GRANT, MICHAEL W. SMITH PRESENT AT HISTORICAL MARKER UNVEILING

Contemporary Christian Music, Belmont Church and Koinonia Coffee celebrated by Nashville Metro Historical Commission, Metro Council, and Gospel Music Association

Special guests Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith join Gospel Music Association President, Jackie Patillo and District 8 Councilwoman, Nancy VanReece along with GMA board members to celebrate the unveiling of CCM's historical marker (GMA/Mickey Bernal)

Front row, l to r: Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Brown Bannister
Back row, l to r: Lanier Ferguson, Gary Pugh, Jackie Patillo, Nancy VanReece, Mayor David Briley, Steve Chapman, Annie Chapman and Scott Brickel

NEWS SOURCE: Wortman Works
July 25, 2019

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 25, 2019) -- Today, the Nashville Metropolitan Historical Commission, in association with the Nashville Metro Council, celebrated the installation of a historical marker at 1000 16th Avenue South with an unveiling ceremony, honoring decades of the music impact of Belmont Church, Koinonia Coffeehouse and the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) genre on the city of Nashville. Additionally, a concert of celebration featuring CCM artists who performed at Koinonia during the 1970’s, will be held on July 27 at the Koinonia Coffeehouse.

The historical marker unveiling ceremony today included Nashville’s Mayor David Briley, Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith along with District 8 Councilwoman, Nancy VanReece, Gospel Music Association President, Jackie Patillo and Nashville Metro Historical Society Historian, Jessica Reeves. The 20-minute ceremony began at 10 a.m. on the corner of 16th Avenue South and Grand Avenue. This location is at the heart of what is known as Nashville’s famous “Music Row." This event was free and open to the public.

“Gospel and Contemporary Christian Music have played a big, but sometimes unsung, role in Nashville’s creative evolution and in our being known worldwide as Music City,” said Nashville Mayor David Briley. He continues, “It’s fitting that we honor the impact these musicians, singers, songwriters, producers, engineers and others have had on listeners around the world.”

The Koinonia Celebration Concert will be held on Saturday, July 27 at 6:30 p.m. featuring artists and songs from the celebrated era including Dogwood, Fireworks and more at the Koinonia Coffeehouse (1000 16th Avenue South). The concert is open to the public on a first come basis until capacity.

On July 16, the Nashville Metropolitan Council included a reading of a resolution celebrating 50 years of the Gospel Music Association (GMA)’s Dove Awards, acknowledging the impact of the upcoming unveiling of the historical marker and thanking GMA for collaborating with three major CCM record companies to fund the historical marker.

“The Gospel Music Association is thankful for our colleagues at Curb/Word Entertainment, Capitol Christian Music Group, and Provident Music Group for their financial support for the historical marker and dedication to serving our community in this way,” commented GMA President & Executive Director, Jackie Patillo. “We are also honored to receive the resolution from the Metro Council, on behalf of the CCM and Gospel industry based here, which honors the 50th year of the Dove Awards and we want to urge the community to consider attending the awards on October 15th at Lipscomb’s Allen Arena.”

The timing of this historical marker installation has been elevated as Music Row is now on the list of most endangered historical landmarks by The National Trust for Historic Preservation (announced 5/30/19). You can read more about it here.

Other Metro historical markers have been created to honor well known locations such as Ryman Auditorium, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and Belmont Mansion (located just down 16th Ave South from Koinonia and Belmont Church) or markers are based on events such as the Battle of Nashville or the East Nashville Fire. Some markers honor its most famous leaders and creative people such as Revolutionary War General Thomas Overton, dancer Albertine Walker, and Poet Laureate Randall Jarrell. The new historical marker at 16th and Grand for Contemporary Christian Music, Belmont Church and Koinonia Coffeehouse combines historic sites, key events and highlights a few select creative individuals who contributed richly to the fabric of this brand of music in Music City.

Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant reveal the historical marker honoring Belmont Church, Koinonia Coffeehouse and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) (GMA/Mickey Bernal)

Metropolitan Historical Commission:
Created in 1966, the Metropolitan Historical Commission is a municipal historic preservation agency working to document history, save and reuse buildings, and make the public more aware of the necessity and advantages of preservation in Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. The commission consists of fifteen Davidson County residents appointed by the mayor. In 1967, the Metro Historical Commission initiated a historical marker program to commemorate significant people, places, and events in the city's past. Marker Number One, "Heaton's Station," was erected at Lock One Road in 1968. The marker program is now one of the Historical Commission's longest-running and most successful programs, with over 200 markers across the county. For more information about the Historical Markers program, visit http://www.nashville.gov/Historical-Commission/Services/Historical-Markers.aspx.

Nashville Metro Council:
The Metropolitan Council is the legislative authority of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, a city-county consolidated government created on April 1, 1963. The Council is a 40-member body of elected representatives of which 35 are elected by district and 5 are elected at-large, or county-wide. By Charter the regular meetings of the Council are held on the first and third Tuesdays of every month. The meetings are held in the David Scobey Council Chamber in the Historic Metro Courthouse, One Public Square in downtown Nashville. All meetings are open to the public.

Gospel Music Association:
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the Gospel through music of all styles including Pop, Rock, Praise & Worship, Urban Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, Country and more. The GMA community includes agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, IMMERSE and GMA Honors. For more on supporting the GMA or becoming a member, please visit www.gospelmusic.org or contact the GMA directly at 615.242.0303.

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For more info on Amy Grant, visit the JFH Artists Database.
For more info on Michael W. Smith, visit the JFH Artists Database.